Chapter 9

LUCIEN POV

“Ah!”

The morning after my Alpha Ceremony, I’m jolted awake by a sharp stabbing pain in my heart. I sit up in bed, instinctively pressing a hand to my chest in an ineffective attempt to numb the discomfort. It only gets worse as the seconds pass. A second, stronger wave hits me, and I groan louder.

“Lucien?” Liana’s sweet, groggy voice sounds distant, muffled by the pain, even though she’s lying right next to me. “What’s going on?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.

That’s a good fucking question.

I’m an Alpha, the most powerful in my pack. I never get sick. I can’t remember the last time I felt mild discomfort—let alone a pain this great. Strangely enough, if I didn’t know that it’s impossible for someone with a bloodline like mine to have a heart attack, I’d assume I was having one. What the hell was going on with me?

Then, subtly, I hear my wolf whimper, “Mate…”

At that moment, it clicks.

“Argh!” I grunt for the third time as the pain intensifies, and I clutch my chest harder.

“Goddess!” Liana squeals, leaning closer to me.

I spare a glance at her, my eyes instantly landing on the mark on her neck—my mark. She was still naked, tangled between the sheets. Concern was etched into every line on her face. She was drop dead gorgeous, her voluptuous breasts begging for me to squeeze them, and the sight of her branded with my own stamp should make my wolf go nuts for her. Still, the only one the mutt cares about is our little omega slut.

And I might very well have lost her.

As the realization sinks in, I push through the pain of what I now know must be from Lyra’s rejection and stand up in a rush. Liana restlessly calls my name, begging for explanations, but I ignore her completely as I pull on my pants and prepare to march out of the room. Yet before I can take my first step towards the door, the bitch grabs my wrist.

“Lucien! Talk to me!” she demands, a flash of anger surfacing amidst her worry.

I yank my arm free, almost knocking her off the bed. “There’s an urgent matter that demands my attention,” I growl at her, not bothering to utter another word as I make my way out.

“Wait, Lucien! Lucien!” Liana continues to yell after me, but I don’t care.

I don’t care that I just marked her. I don’t care that it’s her first day as my Luna. I don’t care that she’s restlessly calling out my name while she’s naked and alone in my bed. All I care about is finding Lyra.

And punishing her for whatever stupid stunt she tried to pull.

My feet drag me to the dungeons, the place where I left her chained to be used like the slut she is. Anger boils inside me when I confirm that the place is empty. Her scent lingers in the air, driving my wolf mad, but it’s already faint. She must have left hours ago.

Enraged, I storm towards the Omega wing. All of the pathetic, weak servants freeze upon my arrival, my aura alone enough to intimidate them and have them nearly shitting their pants in fear. I scan the place with a low growl reverberating in my chest, until I find the Head of the Omegas—or better yet, she finds me.

“My Alpha,” she greets me, bowing her head deeply. “What brings you here? Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Where. Is. Lyra.” I growl each word, my anger barely contained.

The woman lifts her head and blinks a couple of times in confusion. “I sent her to do her chores earlier. I haven’t seen her since,” she confesses, and fear grips my heart tighter. “Has she been slacking off? I apologize on her behalf. I’ll find her and punish her, my Alpha.”

“Leave that to me,” I snap back at her, turning my head and leaving.

My heavy steps echo through the halls like thunder. Where is she? Where could she have gone after trying to reject me? If she thought she could get away with this, she was dead wrong.

“Hector.” I mindlink the captain of the scouts. “We have a missing pack member. Find her and bring her back to me immediately,” I order, not even waiting for his response before cutting off our connection.

When I burst through the door to my office, I suddenly halt as I find two unexpected presences there.

My parents.

“What’s the hurry about, Son?” my father demands.

Shit. I didn’t want to explain what was going on. I would die before admitting that the Moon Goddess had paired me, the heir of the pack, with a weak Omega. And I certainly wouldn’t confess that my wolf was going ballistic in her absence.

But I also know better than to think I can avoid my father and mother when they’re standing right before me with inquiring gazes.

“Lyra Lane is gone,” is all I say in the end.

Father creases his brows. “Who?”

My wolf, Bones, growls in annoyance at the realization that our father, the former Alpha, doesn’t even know who our mate is.

Still, I try my best to shrug it off as I reply, “She’s one of the Omegas.”

“Is this… Omega the reason why you left your Luna alone in bed after your first night together?” my mother chimes in, her tone accusatory.  

Fuck, why won’t they leave me alone already?

“As the Alpha, it’s my responsibility to look after all pack members,” I blurt out the first thing I can come up with to excuse my worry.

My father laughs. “Not Omegas. They’re all replaceable,” he spits, and it makes my blood boil.

“Some insignificant Omega is not worth your time,” he continues. “Besides, if this Omega truly did leave pack territory, she won’t survive long. In fact, she’s probably already dead.”

Dread settles in my chest at the thought.

Before it shows, I shake my head. “Whatever. I still have work to do,” I say, a clear cue for them to get the hell out.

My father hesitates, but rises from my chair and calmly walks towards the exit. Mom follows right behind him, though not before shooting a suspecting glance at me. I ignore it, closing the door with a bang as soon as they’re gone.

I’ll find you, Lyra, I vow to myself. Even if I have to chase you through hell.

And when I do, I’ll fuck you until you break, so you learn to never leave me again.